David Letterman explains Harmony Korine ban

Talk show host David Letterman banned Harmony Korine from his late night show after allegedly finding the director rifling through Meryl Streep’s purse during a guest appearance in 1999.

James Franco appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Monday to promote his new movie “Spring Breakers,” and conversation quickly turned to blacklisted Korine, who directed the film.

Offering a defense for his friend, Franco said, “He’s great person to work with, but I think he had a period where he was going a little off the rails. … The legend is that he pushed Meryl Streep backstage. I mean if you push Meryl Streep backstage you get kicked off. … But he said he was a little out of it… so maybe he was on something that night.”

But Letterman had a different story to tell, revealing, “I went upstairs to (the green room to) greet Meryl Streep and say welcome to the show… and I looked around, and she was not in there, and I found your friend Harmony going through her purse. True story. And so I said, ‘That’s it, put her things back in her bag and then get out of here.’”

Floored by the revelation, Franco then suggested they settle their differences, since Korine is a much different person now: “He didn’t tell me that, but he’s a good guy now you should bring him back on. I vouch for him.”